Scott's Spiel

My first OSCE was today. OSCE (Oh-ski), by the way, is an Objective Structured Clinical Exam which we have to do as part of the year assessment from next year onwards. Today was just a mock to get us used to how they work. It was a long morning, starting at 8:30 with a briefing and finally ending at 1:15 where I managed to get some food. It may have been a mock, but they weren’t trying to make it seem like one – we all had to dress formally as we would for patients and as soon as 8:30 hit the doors into the Seminar Room were locked with only about half the number that should have been in there.

Once we got started though, it was quite good. We were number 1, 2 & 3 and depending on the number we were either an examiner, candidate or the patient. I got the short straw and was the candidate first. As a candidate there were 7 stations – suturing, blood pressure, two actor communication skills, and 3 limb movements. I did OK. Need to remember to wash my hands all the time and confirm patients’ identities. Also need practice on introducing myself to a block of foam (suturing). This was the first year they’ve done this in year 1 and I think they’ll be keeping it here. Despite the mayhem at the start, it was worth the early wake. Plus, I got to run around clinical skills with my stethoscope around my neck! (Yes, I’m sad).

Five weeks to go till exams and revision is going slow. I’m hoping the exam will be lots of anatomy and biochemistry (I like diabetes) with very little waffle (my English teacher would’ve hated it!).